T…Sessions based on the general topics of WETPOL

S…Special Sessions submitted to WETPOL 2021

Session Chair: Gwenael Imfeld

The session is devoted to innovative concepts and approaches within pond and constructed wetlands to improve the interpretation of in situ processes of synthetic and inorganic pesticide transformation in water, sediment and biotic compartments as well as their interfaces. It also explores the risk and spatial predictions of pesticide transfer that includes the specific role of ponds and CW at the catchment scale.

Session Chairs: Margit Kõiv-Vainik, Jacques Brisson, Kuno Kasak

  • To provide a broad overview of state-of-the-art knowledge on nature-based solutions (NBS-s) used for agricultural diffuse pollution control. Examples include treatment wetlands, buffer strips, biofilters, two-stage ditches, denitrification walls, and ponds.
  • To discuss newest research results on, for instance, how NBS-s can improve water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These results can be achieved by applying latest technologies and novel designs. As well, by clever use of materials, vegetation, and natural treatment processes for enhancing performance of NBS-s.
  • To demonstrate real-life examples of successful implementations of NBS-s.

Session Chairs: Shubiao Wu, Lorenzo Pugliese

To meet the growing demand for a greener agricultural transition at a lower environmental cost, and reduce vulnerability to climate change, it is imperative to address the key need of calling the attention of researchers to a greater research effort on exploring effective drainage treatment systems. In this session, we would like to urge a rethink on the specific challenges that must be addressed in future research endeavors for agricultural drainage treatment systems.

Session Chairs: Lars Duester, Henning Schroeder

Processes at sediment-, soil-, root-, bacteria- and biofilm-water-gas interfaces (<µm to cm scales) define the speciation and fractionation of natural and artificial compounds – thereby the mobility, transformation and toxicity. In contrast to their relevance, these layers are experimentally challenging and comparably seldom addressed. Due to new analytical and experimental options, environmental interfaces as places for e.g., nutrient, greenhouse gas and priority pollutant transformation, gained increasing visibility. However, so far studies on wetlands seem underrepresented. The aim of the session is to foster the exchange between experts from the wetlands and the interfaces worlds, in order to open doors towards future activities

Session Chairs: Kanchan Khare, Robert Faggian, Dayanand Panse

The session will confer about how wetlands and other nature-based solutions play a critical role in restoring ecosystems, especially in different geographical urban settings. The wise use of wetlands for more habitable, sustainable, and resilient cities. It can be established as a versatile, environmentally friendly option for water management and wastewater treatment with several effective proven uses for environmental management and environmental benefits. The purpose of the session is to highlight the synergies between green technologies and urban areas to reconnect cities with nature.
The discussions will focus on the efforts made by many of us to mitigate the current degradation process of the urban landscape. Following the concept of green infrastructure, the session will present and suggest ways to integrate wetland technology in the urban environment, namely: (i) stormwater and urban runoff management (storage and treatment of water during storm events) to provide protection from flood incidents, especially considering climate change, (ii) innovative low-impact infrastructure and design solutions for urban wastewater treatment, and (iii) wetland technology for habitat creation and ecosystem services provision.

Session Chair: Marco Hartl

To present recent research and applications in the field of green walls for wastewater treatment.

Session Chair: Alexandros Stefanakis

The goal of this session is to collect contributions that will investigate, analyse how wetland systems and other nature-based solutions can be integrated in the circular economy concept, study their aspects of circularity and how these can be improved, propose new strategies for design and implementation that would increase a circular outcome and present existing case studies. This session will contribute to the ongoing increasing interest for nature-based solutions by discussing and showcasing the capacity, flexibility and appropriateness of these systems as useful tools in the transition to a circular economy and their multiple economic, environmental and societal benefits

Session Chairs: Marco Hartl, Maria Wirth, Tamara Vobruba, Johannes Kisser

This session aims to present recent research and projects on systemic analysis, resource management strategies and specific technologies which apply nature-based solutions (NBS) in cities and urban environments to close water and nutrient cycles or apply systemic or nexus thinking.

Session Chairs: Martin Tschikof, Risper Ondiek

Freshwater wetlands are complex socio-ecological systems providing multiple ES. Worldwide, anthropogenic pressures have heavily modified these ecosystems, resulting in loss or reduction in ES provision. Because ecosystem properties show different reactions to human interventions, the ES concept has become increasingly important to assess the various facets of wetland degradation and restoration activities. Understanding these interactions among ES across spatio-temporal scales is critical for sustainable environmental decision making, but remains limited.
The session aims to provide an interdisciplinary platform to discuss recent developments on ES assessment methods and their applications for freshwater wetland ecosystems, considering their benefits and limitations from single study sites to river basins. We especially welcome studies focusing on the relevance of multiple ES and their interactions to promote suitable wetland management solutions.